Fire Weather Program : Some Background

Fire weather forecasts are prepared by the NWS for various fire control agencies in Wisconsin on a seasonal schedule from early Spring to late Fall. Start-up and termination of the fire weather season is mainly related to snow coverage across Wisconsin and will be requested by the U.S. Forest Service and the Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Forestry.

Past history indicates Spring to be the most active season for fire in Wisconsin, since dead fuels are abundant and relative humidity values often drop to very low levels. Fall may be another peak time for the fire weather agencies, due to a new source of fuel from dying vegetation due to freezing temperatures.